Deborah Dorfman is an attorney with over 25 years of experience representing people with disabilities. She graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and received her law degree from New York Law School in 1992.  Over the years Ms. Dorfman has litigated numerous class actions and other systemic reform cases on behalf of individuals with disabilities with a particular focus on legal issues pertaining to people with intellectual, mental health disabilities, and/or autism spectrum disorder.  These issues include juvenile justice, education, access to Medicaid and state-funded community-based services, prison and jail conditions, fair housing, civil commitment, forensic mental health, among other issues.

Ms. Dorfman has an array of expertise in her field. Most recently Ms. Dorfman was a senior attorney at the Center for Public Representation. Prior to joining the Center, Ms. Dorfman worked as the Director Quality and Compliance at Behavioral Health Services at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, served as the Managing Attorney of the Los Angeles Office of Disability Rights California, the Deputy Director at Disability Rights Legal Center, and the Legal Director of Disability Rights Washington.  She was also Senior Counsel in the General Litigation Division at the New York City Law Department. Ms. Dorfman was also adjunct professor at New York Law School in the Mental Disability Law Online Program and at St. John’s School of Law. Ms. Dorfman has given numerous presentations, nationally and internationally, and published a number of articles on disability rights issues. She is the recipient of the 2017 William I. Gardner Award from the Center for START Services for her advocacy on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities and behavioral health service needs.

She was inspired to work at WAAA because of its mission and particular focus on providing multifaceted advocacy on behalf of people with ASD and IDD on a wide range of compelling issues for which there is often limited advocacy resources and is eager to return to Washington State and join WAAA to continue her outstanding advocacy on behalf of people with ASD and IDD.

Upcoming Events

Day Out for Autism Family Fun & Resource Fair will be Sunday April 14th, 2019 at the new Downtown Park in Redmond at 16144 Cleveland Street Redmond, WA 98052.